The Emergency Clause Red Herring

A lot of people who are supporters of I-912 indicate their primary reason for voting for the initiative is because the transportation bill contains an emergency clause, and that it is there only because the legislature wanted to bar Washingtonians from taking the issue to a popular vote via a referendum.

Of course, people could always put an initiative on the ballot despite the emergency clause, as I-912 proponents did, albeit requiring more signatures on petitions to do so than for a referendum, but possible nevertheless.

An example of the argument was made by Randy Mueller in his recent comment at Sound Politics. Randy wrote:

I believe that we need to invest in our roads, and that such an investment is good for our economy. I like the project list of improvements funded by this measure, with a few notable exceptions like the pork-laden $50 million to partially fund the Columbia River Crossing I-5 bridge replacement. I think the 2003 Nickel Package was actually a far better transportation measure, with an actual project list built into the bill and a tax that expires once enough money was raised.

But I voted in favor of 912 for one simple reason: the emergency clause. The use of the emergency clause on this bill was a deliberate effort to stop the voters in this state from excercising (sic) their constitutional right to a referendum. Such an effort to derail the will of the people is simply unethical, and during the last legislative session the legislature perverted the emergency clause into something never-before seen in our state.

So I voted in favor of repealing the gas tax, and in the future I will vote to repeal ANY legislation carrying an emergency clause that is not a true emergency. Maybe if enough laws with false emeregency (sic) clauses get repealed, lawmakers will understand that the rights of the voters should not be trifled with.

Randy might find doing that impractical.

Firstly, contrary to what Randy infers in his praise of the 2003 Nickel Package, it too contained an emergency clause.

Secondly, this is hardly "something never before seen in our state" as Randy suggests, and clearly believes.

I did a simple Google search looking for the statement "The bill contains an emergency clause" in bills that made reference to the word "transportation". This resulted in the following 218 bill references dating back to the 1997-98 legislative year (the list would have been almost twice as long had I removed the word "transportation" from the search criteria):

http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2825-2849/2831-s2_hbr_032698.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2825-2849/2831-s2_sbr_022698.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/5525-5549/5539-s_hbr_041797.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/5950-5974/5970-s_hbr_041597.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/6050-6074/6061-s_hbr_042397.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/6450-6474/6456-s_hbr_031398.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/6500-6524/6515-s_hbr_030998.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/6600-6624/6603-s_hbr_030798.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/6600-6624/6603-s_sbr_030798.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1000-1024/1010-s_hbr_042597.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1000-1024/1010_hbr_012097.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1000-1024/1011-s_hbr_050597.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1000-1024/1011-s_sbr_041597.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1000-1024/1011_hbr_020797.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1150-1174/1151_hbr_030597.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1250-1274/1257-s_hbr_050897.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1250-1274/1257-s_sbr_040997.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1250-1274/1257_hbr_031797.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1325-1349/1338-s_sbr_040497.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1325-1349/1338_hbr_022697.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1350-1374/1351-s_sbr_031797.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1550-1574/1566-s_hbr_031497.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1550-1574/1566_hbr_030697.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1575-1599/1581_hbr_050997.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1625-1649/1649_hbr_031297.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1850-1874/1872-s_hbr_032597.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1850-1874/1872_hbr_032497.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1975-1999/1975-s_hbr_042997.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1975-1999/1975_hbr_042497.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/1975-1999/1989_hbr_022897.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2075-2099/2083_hbr_031297.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2100-2124/2108-s_hbr_042297.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2100-2124/2108_hbr_041597.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2175-2199/2180-s_hbr_021098.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2175-2199/2180_hbr_031297.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2200-2224/2214_hbr_040897.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2225-2249/2237-s_hbr_032197.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2225-2249/2237-s_sbr_040497.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2225-2249/2237_hbr_031297.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2250-2274/2272-s_sbr_041797.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2275-2299/2281-s_hbr_042197.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2350-2374/2366-s_hbr_021398.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2350-2374/2366_hbr_020998.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2475-2499/2496_hbr_021198.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2500-2524/2504_hbr_020798.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2500-2524/2514-s_sbr_022798.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2500-2524/2514_hbr_021198.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2725-2749/2734_hbr_021698.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2825-2849/2831_hbr_021798.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2825-2849/2836-s_sbr_022698.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2825-2849/2837_hbr_032398.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/2850-2874/2858-s_sbr_030398.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/house/3125-3149/3132_hbr_030498.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/5175-5199/5183_sbr_020697.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/5300-5324/5314_sbr_032797.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/5425-5449/5433_sbr_022797.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/5650-5674/5662_sbr_021197.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/5900-5924/5912_sbr_030797.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/5950-5974/5955_sbr_030397.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/6025-6049/6042_sbr_031197.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/6050-6074/6062_sbr_032697.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/6050-6074/6064_sbr_032697.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/6350-6374/6363_sbr_021198.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/6600-6624/6603_sbr_020698.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1997-98/senate/6625-6649/6639_sbr_020698.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1050-1074/1053-s_hbr_04301999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1050-1074/1053-s_sbr_04061999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1125-1149/1125-s_hbr_05191999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1200-1224/1212-s_hbr_04201999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1200-1224/1212-s_sbr_04051999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1300-1324/1324-s_hbr_04201999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1300-1324/1324-s_sbr_04051999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1575-1599/1588-s_hbr_03041999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/2100-2124/2111-s_sbr_03311999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/2250-2274/2260-s_hbr_04291999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/2400-2424/2420-s2_hbr_03142000.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/2400-2424/2420-s2_sbr_02282000.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/senate/5250-5274/5273-s_hbr_04141999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/senate/5575-5599/5598-s2_hbr_04051999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/senate/5600-5624/5615-s_sbr_04121999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1050-1074/1053_hbr_02181999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1075-1099/1080_hbr_04241999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1150-1174/1166_hbr_04011999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1200-1224/1212_hbr_02091999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1300-1324/1324_hbr_03021999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1550-1574/1550_sbr_04011999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1575-1599/1588_hbr_02181999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1825-1849/1845_hbr_04201999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1825-1849/1845_sbr_04011999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/1875-1899/1893_hbr_03111999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/2200-2224/2224_hbr_03021999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/2225-2249/2247_hbr_03091999.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/2400-2424/2415_hbr_02082000.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/2400-2424/2420_hbr_02092000.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/2425-2449/2440_hbr_01272000.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/2500-2524/2512_hbr_02052000.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/2550-2574/2554_hbr_02042000.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/2625-2649/2627_hbr_02062000.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/2900-2924/2917_hbr_02032000.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/2950-2974/2963_hbr_02062000.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/3025-3049/3043_hbr_03072000.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/house/3100-3124/3102_hbr_02092000.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/5200-5224/5224-s_hbr_04082001.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/5200-5224/5224_sbr_02202001.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/5275-5299/5277_sbr_02052001.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/5325-5349/5327-s_sbr_06112001.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/5325-5349/5327_sbr_03222001.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/Senate/5325-5349/5335-s_hbr_04102001.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/Senate/5850-5874/5869_sbr_02162001.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/6150-6174/6151-s_hbr_05232001.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/6150-6174/6151-s_sbr_06252001.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/6150-6174/6151_sbr_04092001.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/Senate/6175-6199/6177-s2_sbr_04202001.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/6175-6199/6181_sbr_04302001.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/6175-6199/6194_sbr_06192001.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/6325-6349/6347-s_sbr_03152002.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/6325-6349/6348_sbr_02282002.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/Senate/6550-6574/6563_sbr_01292002.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/6700-6724/6709_hbr_03102002.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/6775-6799/6787-s_hbr_03142002.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/6775-6799/6787_sbr_03082002.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/6800-6824/6822_sbr_02262002.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/senate/6825-6849/6835_sbr_03142002.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/house/1000-1024/1012_hbr_04102001.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/1150-1174/1163-s_sbr_04092003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/1550-1574/1550-s_sbr_04042003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/1550-1574/1557-s_hbr_03202003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/house/1600-1624/1624-s_hbr_04232003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/house/1600-1624/1624-s_sbr_04082003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/1775-1799/1796-s2_sbr_04012003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/5275-5299/5277_sbr_02202003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/5275-5299/5279_hba_03242003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5275-5299/5279_hbr_03282003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5275-5299/5295_sbr_01282004.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/5325-5349/5340_sbr_03192003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5375-5399/5392_sbr_02262003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5400-5424/5402_sbr_04162003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5475-5499/5499_sbr_03102003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/5525-5549/5528_sbr_02262003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/5525-5549/5538_sbr_03072003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/5650-5674/5674_sbr_03052003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5675-5699/5692-s_hba_04022003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/5675-5699/5692-s_hbr_04022003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5725-5749/5748_sbr_03052003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5850-5874/5850-s_sbr_04032003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5850-5874/5850_sbr_03072003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/5875-5899/5891-s_hba_03312003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/5875-5899/5891-s_hbr_04262003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5900-5924/5907_sbr_03032003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5950-5974/5953_sbr_03132003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5950-5974/5960_sbr_02252003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/5975-5999/5975-s_hba_03312003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5975-5999/5987_sbr_03072003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/6050-6074/6061_sbr_04092003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/6050-6074/6062_sbr_04272003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/6050-6074/6074_sbr_04112003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/6100-6124/6106_sbr_01232004.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/6200-6224/6215_sbr_02262004.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/6225-6249/6233_sbr_03022004.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/6425-6449/6442-s_hbr_03022004.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/6600-6624/6612_sbr_02182004.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/6625-6649/6636_sbr_02062004.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/6675-6699/6680_sbr_02102004.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/6675-6699/6697_sbr_03012004.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/senate/6700-6724/6701-s_sbr_02162004.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/1150-1174/1163_hba_02222003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/1150-1174/1163_hbr_04012003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/1250-1274/1271_hbr_03102003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/1525-1549/1545_hbr_03102003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/house/1550-1574/1557_hbr_03112003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/1775-1799/1787_hbr_03052003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/1975-1999/1977_hba_02272003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/house/1975-1999/1977_hbr_05062003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/1975-1999/1977_sbr_03142003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/2075-2099/2098_hba_03032003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/house/2125-2149/2146_sbr_04082003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/house/2225-2249/2226_hbr_04142003.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/house/2375-2399/2378_hba_02032004.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/2750-2774/2768_hba_01272004.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/house/3100-3124/3121_hba_02032004.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/house/3175-3199/3187_hbr_02092004.txt
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/House/1009-S.HBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/House/1460-S.HBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/House/1608-S.HBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/House/1791-S.HBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/House/1975-S.HBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/House/2299-S.HBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/House/5058-S.HBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/House/5101-S.HBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/House/5150-S.HBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/House/5414-S.HBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/House/5952-S.HBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/House/6078-S.HBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/1003.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/1188-S.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/1387-S.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/1397-S.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/1460-S.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/1854-S.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/2221-S.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/2282.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/2311-S.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5097.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5138.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5150-S.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5150.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5163.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5191.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5402.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5414-S.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5414.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5441.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5475.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5513.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5662.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/6068.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/6091-S.SBR.htm
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/6091.SBR.htm

The "emergency clause" argument loses its punch when faced with the overwhelming number of times it has been used before in the past without anyone making a fuss about it.

Perhaps there is indeed a problem with the way the emergency clause is attached to so many bills. Certainly I cannot remember there being so many emergencies, as I define the word, in Washington state. However, it is also clear that singling out this transportation bill for including an emergency clause is disingenuous. If emergency clauses in bills were such an issue then why haven't all these other bills been contested at the ballot box for the same reason? Why haven't people like Randy acted on their threat to vote down any legislation "carrying an emergency clause that is not a true emergency"? It isn't like this was the first time it has likely happened.

Lost in all this is another interesting fact. You might have noticed that SB 6103, this years transportation bill, is not in the list above, and that the documents on the bill's page do not make mention of an "emergency clause". Make of that what you will.

For my part, regardless of the reasons for the multitude of past applications of the emergency clause, this bill is certainly deserving of consideration as an emergency. The many projects that address safety needs have been well documented by myself in past postings and many others.

The Nisqually Earthquake that came within tens of seconds of probably pancaking the Alaskan Way Viaduct reminded us that the structure was on its last legs, and that beyond the shoring up to the roadway that took place in the couple of years that followed, a permanent solution is necessary to solve the problem once and for all.

Meanwhile, all over the state, there are many other unsafe roads and bridges that have fallen prey to squeezed budgets, and into disrepair. Locally the most prominent of these is the 520 floating bridge which is reaching its life expectancy and a congestion bottleneck.

State budgets are put together every two years. Legislatures are not swift moving bodies. This transportation bill was three years in the making, and the urgency to pass it before the session ended was clearly there. I am not qualified to tell you whether or not the bills I've provided links to above warranted an emergency clause be attached to them. I don't believe Randy and others like him are either. However, the people we voted to represent our concerns in Olympia believed they did, by whatever definition of the term "emergency" is accepted in the legislature. However, I do believe that if any bill was more deserving of an emergency clause, the 2005 transportation bill was. Regardless of how slow the legislature is able to develop such bills and budgets, the safety needs should not be diminished, the problems did not vanish, and the true emergency would be if we do nothing should I-912 pass.